Question for the tools wizards

General Discussion
1

Going through Tom TAKAO’s www.theshaperstree.com, I noticed this shot of Claude CODGEN in his shaping room.

I had already heard about people using circular saws for cutting outlines but I had always wondered how the hell this could be done: on any circular saw that I know of, the blade is on the right and the base plate on the left. Safety dictates that the base plate should lie upon the blank (not outside of it) which makes it almost impossible to handle except if you are left-handed…

And suddenly I fall upon this photo:

And here’s the answer: the blade is on the left side of the tool and the base-plate on the right!

Now, the question is: where do you find such tools? This is the very first one that I have ever seen…

2

I used a cordless circular saw like that for about 10 years. Once you get the feel for it

they make very clean and flowing cuts, very close to vertical too.

The one I used was made by Skil, a cheapo tool really. I upgraded the blade but that’s all.

I seem to remember a left and right hand version but may have been another model I was

looking at.

You can use the orientation opposite of what Claude is using by setting the blank in the rack

up on rail. (My rack allows the blank to be held flat, on-rail, or tilted at a 45 degree angle).

I became quite good at cutting while the blank was tilted. The weight of the motor was on

the flat of the blank and the template line very visible since debris would clear by itself.

I got some of the best cuts with a circular saw.

edit: I forgot the URL (not associated with the vendor) http://www.tylertool.com/skil8.html

3

googled a bit and found this but with a 7.5" blade don’t see how it could cut much curve ?

http://www.drillspot.com/products/42138/MILWAUKEE_6391-21_Circular-Saw

4

There you have it, a lefty circular saw…

I also wonder if such a saw could be slowed down, say with a switch or a transformer:- The biggest thing which freaks me out about the idea of using a circular saw on railbands is the speed.

If you could get a cruisy speed happening and with a stone cutter wheel instead of teeth, I’d be going “Why did’nt I have one of these years ago!!!”

Speedy

5

Be careful ,

I watched a pro cut out a Clark blank with a circular saw…smooth as butter

Me and my buddy tried to cut an EPS blank down the middle to put in a stringer and the saw kicked up big time. What the heck? The heat from the blade melted the foam and the melted foam stuck to the blade. Big mess ,major gouge in the blank ,some one could have been injured…

be careful

Safety first

6

the skil 5 1/2 inch saw is the reverse footbed setup.

the abrasive blade is easy.

bitchin for the one off I guess.

the light bulb overhead can click on

at unexpected times.

thanks for the shared revalation

wonder how this will work on styro foam

melt?

no melt?

I like the router

but this one off

styro?

…ambrose…

7

I use a skil 7.25 saw. You must be sure not to cut in to the deck of the board so you must angle the bottom of the blade out then use you planer to get the bumps out. Simple and painless,

8

Ambrose,

I believe you are going to find they will not cut eps as well as they do p/u. Hard to beat a jigsaw or right angle hotwire cutter with a template for eps.

Dave_D

9

I have been fantasizing

about the right angle wire set up

I have yet to achieve clarity.

being a diy guy

my fantasy seems to include plywood

and a deep throat on the harp.

…ambrose…

10

Ambrose,

I have 2. One that has about a 5" reach and it can do up to almost 6" thick (SUPs) blanks. Had to make another with more reach for when I make perimeter stringer blanks from 24" wide eps. Can’t post pics right now cause my camera died and is at Canon being repaired. The ones I did were very similar to some that were posted on here in the past.

Dave_D

11

Abrasive blades wont work on eps, melts and sticks. Get a wide toothed, mine has carbide, blade. Cuts FAST AND CLEAN. Tried hotwire cutters too slow and did not like standing over the “fumes”

12

for those of you in the US, Sears has about 5 different circular saws of different sizes and manufacturers with this left hand configuration

http://www.sears.com/shc/s/s_10153_12605_Tools_Portable+Power+Tools_Circular+Saws?viewItems=20&pageNum=1

corded and cordless models

at all price points

-Ben

13

In Jim Phillips’ shaping dvd he uses a circular saw, but I think he stops short of the ends where the curves are tight. I don’t remember if it was left handed or not, and I don’t think he mentions that issue. Oh, and he uses a big old honking one too.

14

There is an item called a vortex tube, you can check it out at airtxinternational.com it will cool down normal compressed air by close to 75 F so you end up with air that is below freezing so you can cool off your tool and cut throught just about anything without melting it. It does require a good air compresser, 8 CFM min. and cost around $120 for the smallest one but if you need to cool a tool and keep it dry take a look.